Judge Timothy McCourt
Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies
Limits & Logistics
Courtesy Copies
Courtesy copies
Adjournments
- In criminal matters, a continuance motion must be based on good cause and include counsel’s certificate that the motion is made in good faith.
- A trial-preparation continuance motion should state preparation efforts, remaining work, expected readiness date, and any opposing-party objection.
- A motion to continue should be filed sufficiently before the proceeding being continued to permit adequate judicial review.
Request must include
Communication
Chambers
Chambers
Chambers
Document Format Requirements1 rule
Proposed orders must be submitted as Microsoft Word .docx files by email to the designated address.
All proposed orders shall be submitted in Microsoft Word format (.docx) via email JudgeMcCourtProposedOrders@circuit5.org.
DOCX
Document Filing Requirements9 rules
Every proposed order must include a certificate of service compliant with Florida Rule of General Practice and Procedure 2.516.
All proposed orders shall include a certificate of service in compliance with Florida Rule of General Practice and Procedure 2.516.
Document Type
Proposed Order
A motion must be filed before the Court will schedule it for hearing.
Prior to scheduling a motion for hearing, the motion sought to be heard must be filed.
Document Type
Motion
A hearing-request email must identify the case style, motions to be heard, and requested hearing duration.
Your e-mail should include the style of the case, the name(s) of the motion(s) you wish to have heard, and the amount of time you are requesting.
Document Type
Hearing Request
The requesting party must prepare and file a notice of hearing.
The party requesting the hearing will be asked to prepare and file a notice of hearing.
Document Type
Notice Of Hearing
A proposed order should be accompanied by an email or cover letter stating whether all parties agree and by a courtesy copy of the related motion.
Proposed orders should be accompanied by an email or cover letter that indicates whether the order is agreed-upon by all parties and a courtesy copy of the motion to which the order relates.
Document Type
Proposed Order
The requesting party must prepare and submit an order granting a continuance when the continuance is granted.
If an order of continuance is granted, the party requesting the continuance will be asked to prepare an order granting continuance and submit it to the Court.
Document Type
Proposed Order
The proposed order’s certificate of service must include substantially similar language certifying service through electronic service and/or regular U.S. mail.
The certificate of service shall contain language substantially similar to the following: “I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has been provided through electronic service and/or regular U.S. mail to the following parties.”
Document Type
Proposed Order
Proposed orders must include the correct Fifth Judicial Circuit and Marion County caption.
Please double-check your orders to ensure the caption includes the correct circuit (Fifth Judicial Circuit) and county (Marion County).
Document Type
Proposed Order
After approval of a hearing cancellation, the requesting party must prepare and file a notice of cancellation.
If the Court approves the hearing being cancelled, you will be asked to prepare and file a notice of cancellation.
Document Type
Notice Of Cancellation
Filing & Service rules
Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Hearing materials should be submitted at least ten days before the scheduled hearing.
The Court desires that all materials be submitted at least ten days prior to the scheduled hearing to allow for review.
Page 1 | Case Law, Memoranda, and Hearing Materials Other Than Evidence
Service and Proof of Service Rules
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an email address for electronic receipt of signed orders unless excused.
All attorneys and self-represented litigants must provide an e-mail address to receive signed orders electronically, unless excused.
Page 1 | E-filing portal
Attorneys and self-represented litigants must update their electronic-service email information using Form 2.603 whenever that email account changes.
It is the responsibility of attorneys and self-represented litigants to update their contact information using Form 2.603 any time there is a change in the e-mail account registered for electronic service.
Page 1 | E-filing portal
Courtesy Copy Requirements
A courtesy copy of the motion should be attached to the hearing-request email.
A courtesy copy of the motion should be attached to the e-mail.
Page 1 | Scheduling procedure
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
In criminal matters, a continuance motion must be based on good cause and include counsel’s certificate that the motion is made in good faith.
In criminal matters, a motion for continuance must be predicated upon good cause and must include a certificate of movant’s counsel that the motion is made in good faith.
Page 1 | Continuances
A trial-preparation continuance motion should state preparation efforts, remaining work, expected readiness date, and any opposing-party objection.
If a party is requesting a continuance to prepare for trial, the motion for continuance should set forth what efforts have already been taken to prepare for trial, what remains to be done, and when counsel reasonably believes the case will be ready for trial. The motion should also set forth whether the opposing party objects to the continuance.
Page 1 | Continuances
A motion to continue should be filed sufficiently before the proceeding being continued to permit adequate judicial review.
Motions to continue should be filed a reasonable amount of time prior to the proceeding sought to be continued to allow the Court ample time to review them.
Page 1 | Continuances
Chambers Communication Rules
All parties or their attorneys must be copied on all correspondence to the Court.
All other parties to the case (or their attorneys, if they are represented) must be copied on all correspondence to the Court. These guidelines apply to all communications with the Court, including scheduling hearings and submitting proposed orders.
Page 1 | Communication with the Court
Parties may not call or email the Court seeking to discuss a pending case with the judge.
Please do not call or email the Court expecting to speak with a Judge about any case.
Page 1 | Communication with the Court
Hearing requests must be emailed to the hearing-request address with all parties or their attorneys copied.
To schedule a hearing, please email to JudgeMcCourtHearingRequests@circuit5.org. All other parties to the case (or their attorneys, if they are represented) must be copied on the correspondence.
Page 1 | Scheduling procedure
A hearing-cancellation request must be emailed to the hearing-request address and state the reason for cancellation.
If you wish to cancel a hearing that has been previously scheduled, you must email JudgeMcCourtHearingRequests@circuit5.org and state the reason for the cancellation.
Page 1 | Cancellation of hearings
Proposed orders must be emailed to JudgeMcCourtProposedOrders@circuit5.org.
Please send proposed orders to: JudgeMcCourtProposedOrders@circuit5.org.
Page 1 | Communication with the Court
The Judicial Assistant may not provide legal advice.
The Judicial Assistant is not authorized to provide legal advice.
Page 1 | Response to inquiries
Hearing requests must be emailed to JudgeMcCourtHearingRequests@circuit5.org.
To schedule hearings, please send an e-mail to: JudgeMcCourtHearingRequests@circuit5.org.
Page 1 | Communication with the Court
All written communications to Judge McCourt’s office must be submitted by email with the parties’ names and case number in the subject line.
All written communication with Judge McCourt’s office should be submitted via email. The subject line of your email should include the names of parties and case number (e.g., State v. John Doe, 2025-CF-9876).
Page 1 | Communication with the Court
General information requests should be emailed to JudgeMcCourtInformation@circuit5.org.
For general information, please send an e-mail to JudgeMcCourtInformation@circuit5.org.
Page 1 | Communication with the Court
The Judicial Assistant aims to respond to inquiries within one business day.
The Judicial Assistant strives to respond to all inquiries within one (1) business day.
Page 1 | Response to inquiries